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2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

D. T. ROBINSON. VELOCIPBDE.

No. 86,251. ,Patented Jan. 26, 1869.

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2 Sheets-SheetJ 2.

D. T. ROBINSON.

VELOCIPEDE. v No. 86.251. l Patented Jan. 26, 1869.

1 .V Fia/k tant' @anni (hit-i Messes-m- DANIEL T. ROBINSON, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent No. 86,251, dated Janna/ry 26, 1869.

INIPROV'EMEINT IN VELOCIPEDES The Schedule referred to in these Lettera Patent and making part d the same.

*uv-w- To all to whom these prsents sutll come:

, Be it known that I, DANIEL T. ROBINSON, of Boston, in the county of Sublk, and State of Massachusetts, have made an invention of new and useful Improvements in Velocipedes; and do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof', due reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a plan, i

Figure 2, an under-side view,

Figure 3, a vertical, central, and longitudinal section, and i n Figure 4, a front-end elevation of a veloipedecontaining my invention or improvements.

The main. portion of this invention is a novel and simple device for' enabling an individual to apply the power ot' his feet to rotate the'axle and wheels of a velccipede, in order to propel it and himself over the surface of the ground o. secondary' feature of the invention being a means of guiding amd controlling the steering-wheel, whereby the course ofthe vehicle may be regulated Aby one hand of the rider, leaving his other hand free from service; the construction of parts which admits of this, also constituting a powerful means of securely holding the steering-wheel in one position, and enablingthe course of the vehicle to be maintained in -a uniform and even manner when travelling in ari ght line.

The portion of' my invention first above enumerated, consist-s iii two segmental or semieircular blocks, applied loosely to the upper side ofthe driving axle of the vehicle, in juxtaposition with each other, and upon opposite sides of the centre of said axle, these blocks having a vertical groove cut centrally, or thereabouts, within them, for reception of two toothed 'or ratchet-wheels, affixed to and revolving with the driving-axle, a pawl being pivoted or fixed to cach block, and operating upon the toothed wheel in snchmanner that a partial rotation of either of the blocks in one direction, (that is, a forward one,) shall cause a corresponding partial rotation of the driving-axle, thus putting the vehicle in motion; the senil-rotative reciprocating movements of the blocks being eii'ected by means of bands, or their equivalents, and cords or chains, the former of which are applied to the periphery of such blocks, and attached to twin swinging levers; pivoted to brackets depending from the forward end of the body of the vehicle, while the latter are secure'd at their opposite ends respectively to the blocks and leneraand carried about pulleys suitably applied to theilliody or frame of suoli vehicle; the whole being arranged and operating as hereinafter explained. l

In the drawings above alludlid to as accompanying this specification, and which illustrate my invention, the body of the velocipede is shown at A as composed inthe present instance, for convenience, of two side rails a a, united at their forward extremities by a cross-bar, b, a second cross-bar, c, disposed toward the rear ends ofsuch rails, serving to conncetand securely hold the railry together.

The riders seatds shown at d as surmounting the body A, and disposed about centrally thereof, the front edge of sucli`.seat being preferably about in perpendicular line with-the centre ofthe driving-axle, which is shown at e vas revolving in boxes fj, aixed to the nnder side ot' the railsl c e, the wheelsof suchaxle being shown at E E.

The twin segmental blocks, before alluded to, are

shown at g g as resting upon 'and partially encircling the driving-axle upon opposite sides of- `the centre, a strap, h, being axed to each block, and carried about the axle, to preserve the union of the blocks therewith.

These blocks, as before observed, have a vertical semicircnlar groove or saw-kerf, lq, cut within them, for recessing a portion of `two twin ratchet-wheels 1 l, which are afiixed to the axle e, and ievolvingwith it, a spring-pawl or pallet, j, being aiiixed to the forward part of each disk, and taking into the wheels l l, the

shape ofthe teeth of the ratchets being sueh that a pai'-,

.tial forward intermittent rotation. of either block shall impart a corresponding semi-rotation of the ratchet, and with it, the axles and wheels.

A strap, l or l', rests upon the periphery of each blockg g, and is secured to its rear part; such straps l or l being carried forward beyond the blocks, and fastened respectively to two upright vibrating levers in m, of equal length, disposed inadvance of the said blocks, and in alignment therewith, and fulcrumed at their lower ends to a. horizontal rod, fn, supported by brackets o o, depending from the rails c a. before mentioned.

p is a cord or chain, the two ends of which are se- 'i cured respectively to the two levers m m, such cords beingcarried about a sleeve, g, pivoted to the front cross-bar of the body ofthe vehicle and forward of the said levers, the straps l l' and cord p being drawn taut when applied as described.

A second cord or chain, p, is passed in like manner about a second sheave or roller, s, pivoted upon the cross-bar c, before mentioned as disposed in rear of the driving-axle and the blocks g g the two ends of this latter cord being secured to the forward part of such blocks, as shown in iig. 3 of the accompanying drawmcs.

Cllach lever m m is provided at its upper part with a stirrup, t, for rece'ption of the feet of the rider, and to enable him to exert the power of his legs to good advantage upon such levers.

The steering-wheel ofthe vehicle is denoted by the letter B, and the axle to which it is affixed by e, the journals u u of such axle being supported and revolving in movable boxes 'v c, suspended from. the rear ends of the side rails a a of the body of the vehicle, and in rear of the cross-bar c, the said boxes being provided wit-h screws orbolts, which extend through curved slots x or made in two plates, y or y', fixed to the under side of each rail c, the heads of the said screws or bolts resting upon thc upper surfaces of such plates, and permitting sliding movements of the boxes tv 'u in a. circular path about the centre of the wheel, the slots :c z' being concentric with the combined axis of the wheel and its axle, in order to admitof the semi-rotations of the latter in either direction.

A swivelling-bar, z, is pivoted at its centre to the centre of the under side of the rear cross-bar c of the vehicle-body, theropposite extremities of this bar being connected with thefboxes o v of the rear axle by connecting-rods a.2 a", while a third connecting-rod, b, connects one extremity of such bar to the lower end of an upright hand-lever, o, fulcrumed totheouter side of one 'of the side rails a, the upper end or handle of such lever extending Yinto a convenient-position to be readily grasped by the .hand of the rider, who is thus enabled to steer the course ofthe vehicle with one hand only, as by forcing such handle forward or backward, as the -case maybe,'and turning the bar :upon its fulcrum,

a corresponding movement of the' steering-axle is effected through the medium of the wnnecting-'rodsa and the boxes uw In addition to the abovedescribed improvements, I-

have contemplated combining with the vehicle a device for the purpose of enabling both the wheels E E to be employed as driving-wheels, and -yet allow either or. both of them to accommodate themselves to themovements of the vehicle whentravelling in a curved line, in which one wheel must travel faster than or at a different' rate i' 'speed from its fellow.

In carryingout this portion of my invention, I ax to each journal of the driving-axle, an'd alongside of the inner face of each hub di, of the wheels E E, a

ratchet-wheel, c or d', and I pivot to the hub, and so ab to take into the teeth of this ratchet, a spring-pawl, fz, the inclination of the teeth of the ratchet being such that rotation of the driving-axle in the direction o f its arrow shalleausea likeirotation of itswheels, while, upon a. reverse rotation of such wheels, the pawl shall slip-over the teeth of theratchet without actuating it.

It will be seen that upon turning a curve, the outer wheel, which travels the faster, may slip upon its journal suiiciently to accommodate itself to the retarded rotation of its fellow, while the axle, by means of the pawls and ratchets, is at all times ready to exert a propolling power upon both wheels.

The action of the above-described arrangement of the segmental blocks g g, ratchets i i, and levers m m, will be apparent to mechanics, as it is extremely simple.

An advance of one lever and its block of coiu'se causes a semi-rotation of the 'driving-axle, while at the same time it effects a. retraction of the opposite lever and block, which are thus prepared to actuate, in their turn, the axle, and cause aretraction of the first-mentioned lever'and block.

One advantage of the arrangement of the blocks, ratchets, and levers, as before set forth, is, that the dead-point of the common crank is entirely overcome. Another and important advantage of such arrangement, consists inthe fact that the levers are'automatically susceptible 'of any length of stroke, thusaccommodating themselves without any adjustment to riders whose legs vary in length.

The advantage of the arrangement of the ratchets applied to the driving-axle will-`of course be understood, as while permitting both wheels to be driving wheels, it also allows either to travel faster or slower than the other, as the'case may be. Heretofore, in the construction of velocipedes, in order to allow one wheel to travel faster or slower than the lother,'it has been allowed to turn iieely upon the driving-axle, thus throwing all the labor of propelling the vehicle upon one' wheel, causing an unequal and one-sided distribu tion of power.' If'both wheels are fixed-upon the axle, anequally objectionable strain is brought upon the parts in turning curves of comparatively `small radius.

The advantage of my: mode of supporting and controlling the steering-wheel, as before observed, is that it enables the rider to steer the vehicle with one hand, leaving the other free. I f

the further merit of being extremely simple and cheap in construction, and duable in wear.

self to the emplcymentyof the ratchet-wheels` for the purpose of connecting the segmental blocks to the driving-axle, as iiictionvplates or various other devices may be employed forthe punpose.

I would remark that in place of the straps l l, before aient devices may be employed, without affecting the character of-'iny invention.

I wouldremark that I have contemplated the a'pplication of anti-tiiction rollers to the axle of the driving-wheels, for the purpose of reducing friction on the same.

I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, as follows: 1. As an improved device for propelling velocipedes, I claim the combination and arrangement of the segmental blocks g g, ratchets i fi, or their equivalents, and

the levers m m, the blocks being provided with the cord or chain r, and connected to the levers and ratchas described. v DANIEL '1. ROBINSON'.

Witnesses:

Faun: Oun'rrs, Gao. A. Louise,

- The construction ofthis portion ofthe invention has ,I would remark that 1I do not intend .to confine my`-A mentioned,for operating the blocks g g, other eqniv-' ets by means of the straps l l, or their equivalents, as

provided with means of actuating them, substantially 

